Indian High Commission (IHC) officials along with their family members were quarantined upon their arrival in Pakistan after one of them tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday.

A Pakistan Foreign Office statement said the group of 12 IHC officials and their family members crossed over to Pakistan through Wagah border on Saturday (May 22) in line with the laid down Covid related health safety protocols, Tribune reported.

All 12 passengers carried negative PCR [Covid-19] reports, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in the statement.

“However, upon arrival, the spouse of an official of the IHC tested positive on RAT (rapid antigen test) conducted by Pakistani health officials,” the spokesperson said.

The FO spokesperson, in his statement, said the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), being the competent forum, after reviewing the case, advised all 12 officials and their family members along with the driver of the vehicle to undergo the mandatory quarantine.

“The IHC has been advised to strictly follow the guidelines provided by the NCOC,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Diplomatic sources told The Tribune that as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) agreed between the two countries, if a member of the diplomatic staff or their associates test positive for Covid-19, he/she will be quarantined in the same country instead of being sent back.

The sources said had Indian immigration officials conducted RAT of their citizens at the Attari border, then the woman could have been prevented from crossing over the border.

“This is a fault of Indian immigration officials. Pakistani authorities have acted by the law,” they added.

The officials also set aside rumors that the Indian official submitted fake coronavirus report, saying no one can afford to take such a risk especially when she has to live with about 100 citizens of her country in the embassy.

(SAM)